The Astra condominium – Privileged living at “The Gem of the North”

Now the older brother of the Astra Condos with the newer Astra Sky River just up the road, the tight municipal planning laws governing the height of a building and space within downtown Chiang Mai at a premium, Astra’s imposing high-rise stature situated in the city’s principal commercial hub is a precious find indeed. Blending time-honoured Lanna [Northern Thai] architectural charm with contemporary urban and eco-conscious design influences, real estate developer Ornsirin has succeeded in establishing the only luxury condominium in Chiang Mai’s Central Business District. Stellar in both name and specification, The Astra was recently declared the winner of the ‘Best Residential Development (Chiang Mai)’ for 2016 by the coveted Thailand Property Awards.

Favourably positioned on Chang Klan Road, The Astra is but a five-minute walk from the Night Bazaar, itself a treasured institution in Chiang Mai. For a more modern shopping experience, CentralFestival and Central Airport Plaza are all conveniently accessible –as are various other destinations throughout the city- by boarding their respective free shuttle bus, which departs several times daily from the prestigious five stars Shangri-La Hotel which flanks The Astra.

Perhaps not surprisingly, in-house amenities at The Astra are outstanding. Operating round-the-clock duly attired security guards at the main entrance, CCTV video surveillance throughout all common areas of the condo, as well as keycard-controlled admittance to the property from the outside and even to individual floors via the double elevators; for added reassurance, residents benefit from a juristic office which is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Generously, The Astra supports sheltered parking for more than 400 cars and boasts a ‘Grand lobby’ with an attractively appointed communal lounge consisting of an assemblage of 3-seater sofas, accent chairs and glass coffee tables. Complimentary WiFi internet is provided in all shared areas of the property, while installation of private, high-speed fibre-optic home broadband can be arranged. 

Each of The Astra’s two lofty 17-storey buildings enjoys a variety of best-of-breed recreational facilities. On the rooftop, a fully landscaped garden complete with a profusion of greenery and brightly coloured flowers and commanding unobstructed and sweeping 360° panoramic views over the entire city and surrounding mountain ranges. On the 16^th floor, a spacious gym equipped with high-tech exercise machines and free weights; a modestly-sized outdoor infinity swimming pool with integrated jacuzzi and adjoining sun deck likewise affording spectacular birds-eye vistas; separate-sex steam rooms in addition to a deluxe wellness centre staffed by massage therapists from the Shangri-La Hotel’s ‘CHI, The Spa’ with discounted rates on signature treatments exclusively for residents of The Astra.

Fitted with a three-way digital door lock for extra peace of mind, all of the 589 units in The Astra come fully –and exquisitely- furnished and air-conditioned throughout by two or more ceiling vents wall-mounted units. Presenting a homely feel rich in natural light by virtue of high ceilings and full-length windows, the interior space is finished to the highest standard using raw materials (such as Italian marble and native teak wood) complimented by an Earth toned colour palette and supremely refined décor.

While absent studio rooms, The Astra offers one-, two- and three-bedroom units as well as 20 one- and two-bedroom duplex penthouse units (each with a corresponding number of bathrooms) in a range of sizes and layouts. One-bedroom units range from 29.5 to 46.1 sq m, and 2-bedroom units from 47.4 to 85 sq m. Three-bedroom units measure 96.7 sq m, and the double-storey penthouses on the 15^th floor from 76.2 to 168.9 sq m; every unit has an attached private balcony, half of which face north and overlook the lush gardens of the adjacent Shangri-La Hotel.

By default, sales units are not supplied with a television, fridge/freezer or microwave although such household electrical appliances can be included by the property (using a selection of quality brands such as Samsung, Smeg and Sony) for an additional outlay or may be provided independently by the owner of a particular rental unit; a washing machine is similarly lacking in a sales unit though one can also be organised through the property or residents can avail of the communal self-service laundry room. Bathrooms comprise a glass-panelled shower cubicle with an oversized rainforest showerhead; upscale bathroom designer Kohler manufactures toilets and ceramic basins. The bathtub is present in some of the units. Living/dining/western style kitchen space is open-plan in all units. It minimally contains a two-seat or more oversized cushioned sofa, a dining table with two, four or six comfortable chairs, and a two- or four-plate electric hob and extractor hood with some units, even including an integrated oven.

Of the 261 units in Tower B, around 100 are already in occupation with foreigners representing almost three quarters of the total compliment of current residents. Move-in ready from April 2016, The Astra has since reached roughly 30% of its 49% foreign-owned legal quota.

There is now the New Astra Sky River Just up the road to the Astra and well worth checking out.

Are you currently living at The Astra? We’d love to hear what you think by posting a comment below!